FIGHTING back the tears, Alison Madgin has returned to the spot where her daughter was murdered.

On what would have been Samantha’s 19th birthday, accompanied by family members and Samantha’s school pals, she lit 19 candles at the murder scene, a lane between Victoria Avenue and Albert Avenue in Wallsend.

Despite the pain of visiting the spot, where Samantha was brutally stabbed to death, it is the place where Alison feels closest to her murdered daughter.

“I feel her in that back lane. It’s a place where I feel close to Samantha,” said Alison, 42, of High View, Wallsend.

“It’s hard, but I want to make that effort so I don’t let her down.

“I wasn’t there that night and it’s terrible to think what she must have gone through.

“Going back there is my way of giving her some comfort.

“Laying flowers makes the lane look nice, so if Samantha’s looking down she knows we’re thinking of her.”

In an emotional message to her daughter, laid with flowers, Alison wrote: “I miss you always. Life will never be the same without you. I will do my best for Callum, and try and be the mum you could have been. Callum is happy, just like his mum, always smiling. Love from us all. xx.”

The popular teenager was knifed during a disturbance involving two groups on August 2. Peacemaker Samantha suffered 10 stab wounds, including a fatal blow to her heart, at the hands of vodka and cocaine-fuelled Jordan Jobson, who was jailed earlier this month for 15 years.

Friends and family have left heartfelt birthday messages to Samantha on her memorial page on the website Facebook.

Her sister Carly wrote: “Love you so much Sam, happy birthday darling. I wish you could be here.”

Another friend, Kayleigh Glen, wrote: “Hiya Sam. Still thinking of you, honey. Still remember last time we spoke, was all about Callum and you where showing me the photos. You were so happy but you will never be forgotten. See you again one day.”

Jobson, 15, of Walker, Newcastle, was convicted of murder by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.

Four men admitted affray charges in relation to the attack and received sentences ranging from community orders to 18 months in jail.

Samantha had given birth to baby Callum just 10 weeks before she was killed.